Mine section insulator switch.



G. H. BOLUS.

MINE SECTION INSULATOR SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 14:13.20, 1914.

Patented Feb.23,1915

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. H. BoLUs. MINE SECTION INSULIATOR SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 20, 1914.

I Patented Fb. 23, 1915.

2 SHBBTS-SHEBT 2.'

Q "El l g ww @n mi ww THE omo BRAsscoM-PANY, NEW JERSEY.

MINE SECTION INSU'JAT'OZR SWITCH.

Speci'cation of Letters Patenti patenten ret. es, fiera.

Application filed February 20, 1914. Serial N o. 819,895.

section insulators and has more particular reference to section insulator switches of the character used most generally in mines and similar places.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved device of this character which will be simple, durable and reliable in construction and effective and efficient in operation.

@ther objects of my invention will appear hereinafter. o

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an insulator switch structure embodying my invention.. Fig. 2

is a bottom plan view thereof. F ig. 3 is ay longitudinal horizontal section on the linel 3-3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a transverse sec'- tion on the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5*5 of Fig. 1, and `Fig. 6 is a detail view of the inner end portion of one of the end members of the device.

In the structure shown in the drawings the parts are generally supported by the long rectangulanshaped beam or bar A,

which is preferably made of insulating materlal, such as wood, and which serves as the insulatingr medium between the end :members B. The end members B, to which Y the terminals or ends of the' section of the trolley wire are attached, arepreferably made in the form of castings which are secured to the under edge ofthe insulating beam A adjacent its end portions by means of the long bolts 1. The beam A is positioned on edge for strength, andthe bolts 1 pass through from the top edge of the member A to the lower edge where they are screwed into the metal of the end castings and thus securely fasten the parts together and hold them in proper Valinement. The end members B are preferably-hollow and are rounded oil on their under edgesl similar to the shape of a trolley wire so as to form a. smooth underrun-surface for the contacter wheels on the poles of the cars. These end members have end runner pieces f2 which are integrally formed 'therewith and which project beyond the ends of the insulating beam A and which are rounded olf on their under sides flush with the end members B vso as to likewise provide smooth underrun surfaces for the contacter. rlhese end runners have longitudinal .grooves 3 which open on their lowerfsides, for aportion of the length thereof, for the reception of the end portions of the trolley wires which are to be connected thereto. The lips or edges 4 'of these grooved end runner.' pieces "are preferably thin land are bendable 'so that 'they may be formed around the trolley wire i'n ysuch manner as to substantially merge with' the surface ofthe trolley wire in order to 'avoid bumps. 'so 'to speak, in the continuity ofthe trolley wire'. The grooves 3 of the end runners incline slightly upward at their inner end portions and a number of 'set screws 5 are provided for clamping the trolley 'wire firmly in position.- rl'he end members B have short upstanding projections 6 adjacent the ends of the beam A, and these projections are provided with transverse holes 7 and set screws 8 for the purpose ofattaching feeder wires to the struc;l ture. I also provide suspension members '9 on the upper edge of the beam A adjacent its 'ends'. These suspension members 9hav`e clevises 10 which embrace the beam and are secured thereto by transverse bolts 11, andl said members are also provided' 'with threaded sockets 12 which may be secured t hanger members (not shown) vof the ordinary or any suitable type for the purpose. It will be noted that this arrangement p'r'ovides al two-point suspension for the structure and has the advantage over the ordinary single point suspension of preventing the structure from wabbling. y A

The inner ends of the end members B terminate considerably short of each other so as to provide a space therebetween, and this space is adapted to be filled bv a rotary underrun piece or member 13. This mem ber is formed similar to the end members B in so far as it lserves to fill in said space between said end members; that 'is to say, it is vhollow and it is rounded olf ou its under edge similarly to the end members and flush with the 'under-Tim' f the' i rp. l

GLENN HENRY BOLUS, OF MNSFIEID, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO .OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F A terials generally'used so that lit will effectively withstand wear.

vIt will be noted, more particularly by reference to Figs. 1, 2'and 6, that the inner ends of the end members B andthe corresponding co-acting ends of` the member 13 are cut on the bias so as to insure the proper alinement of said member 13 with the end members B when the member 13 is rotated to its alined position. YVhen the member 13 is rotated to a position at right angles to its bridging position. as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the space between the end members B will be effectively open and the trolley contactwheel cannot pass smoothly. The underrun piece or member 13 has a flat circular horizontally disposed disk or plate 14 formed at the central portion of its upper edge, and this disk or plate coperates with a similar disk or plate 15 to form, in a sense, a turn-table or bearing for the bridge member 13. These coperating disks, it will be noted, are comparatively large in diameter and consequently provide a great bearing surface which very effectively insures the proper operation of the member 13 and prevents it from becoming wabbly or relatively displaced in any manner. The stationary bearing disk 15 has a number of 11p-standing projections or ears 1G which are spaced apart so that the beam A may be positioned therebetween, and these ears are clamped securely to the beam A by bolts 17 which pass-through said ears and through the beam A, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. rIyhe 'two bearing disks 14, 15 are held in contact by means of a central pivot bolt 18 which passes down from the upper side of the disk 15, through said disk 15 and is threaded into the metal of the member 13. After the bolt has been screwed into said member 13 it is held locked against relative rotation with respect thereto by means of a transverse pin 19. In order that the two bearing disks 14, 15 may be held firmly, and at the same time yieldingly in contact, I interpose a. spring collar or washer 20 between the head 21 of the bolt and the upper face of the disk 15, and if desired, a Ilat washer 22 may be also placed below the spring washer 20 for the purpose of taking up the wear. The beam A is, of course, provided with asocket or hole 23 to provide room for the bolt head 21 and *spring washer 20.

A handle of any suitable type, such as the handle C, may be, provided for operating the member 13. One end of this handle is secured to an angular integral projection 24- outstanding laterally from the member' 13 .near one end thereof so that the handle will .the space between the end members B from a mechanical standpoint; that is to say, it is intended to form a mechanical continuation ot' said end members B when it is rotated into alinement therewith. While it may, if desired, serve also to electrically connect said end members together, I prefer to employ additional means for this purpose, and this additional means is so positioned that it cannot be struck or disturbed by the'trolley cont-actor wheel. In the structure shown I electrically connect the end mem.- bers B by means of a flat rectangular switch blade 26 positioned above the member.13. This switch blade has a central hole through which the pivot bolt 1S passes. and it is laid in a fiat groove which is milled in the upper face of the bearing disk or plate 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. This blade, however, is firmly secured to and movable with the member 13 by means of the bolts or screws 27 which clamp the blade against upstanding lugs or projections 28 on the member 13 near the ends thereof. This switch blade is disposed at a slight angle with respect to the member 13, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and its ends are adapted to enter between and engage stationary spring clips 29 which are positioned above the inner ends of the end members B. These clips are preferably in the form of flat pieces of metal having their inner ends 30 embedded in grooves formed in the end members B, said clips being locked in position by transverse pins 31.. as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The clips on each end member B are spaced apart to provide a suitable cntrance for the end of the switch blade 26. The switch blade anddits co-acting clips thus serve to v ery effectively electrically connect and disconnect the end members B at two points, thus reducing the tendency to are and at the same time these parts are positioned above the path of movement of the trolley contacter wheel so that there is no danger of damage therefrom. My improved structure also. permits repairs thereto when the rotary parts are in open position because in open position these parts are electrically dead and the operator or repairman will not receive a shock when working on said parts. The construction of the in- 'ner ends of the end members is such that even should a trolley wheel pass when the device is open, no damage'will be done either tothe Wheel or the structure. These inner ends are open so that when the device is being installed the trolley wire may be pulled through the end members and given the Y proper tension, this being done while the rotary parts are in open position.

' What I claim is:

- 11. In a device of.l the class described, the combination of a pair of linsulated members spaced apart, a rotary member arranged to be moved into alinement with said insulated members, an auxiliary member rotatable' with said rotary member for. electrically vconnecting said insulated members, and con# tacts carried by said members and adapted to be engaged by said auxiliary member.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting member and terminal members insulated therefrom and spaced apart, an underrun member pivoted between said terminal members and adapted to be rotated into alinement therewith, a switch blade carried by said underrun member, and contacts on said terminal members adapted to be engaged by the switch blade to electrically connect said terminal members when said underrun member is rotated to alined position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of'a beam of insulating material and end members attached to said beam adjacent the ends thereof and to which a trolley wire is adapted to be attached, an underrun member rotatably. mounted on said beam between said end members and adapted to be rotated in alinement with said end members to form a mechanical continuation thereof, a switch blade mounted on said underrun member and rotatable therewith, and contacts engageable by said switch blade mounted on said terminals.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a beam of insulating material and end members attached to said beam adjacent the ends thereof and to which a trolley wire is adapted to be attached, a l

rotary member mounted on said beam between said end members and adapted to be rotated in alinement with said end membeam of insulating material,

bers to form a mechanical continuation thereof, a switch blade mounted on said rotary member and rotatable therewith, contacts engageable by said switch blade mounted on said terminals, and a handle outstanding from said rotary member for rotating it and the switch blade.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally disposed end members mounted thereon in substantial alinement therewith and spaced apart, a bearing plate fastened to said beam, a rotary member adapted to be positioned in alinement with Y 'holding said bearing tsl.

6. Ina device of the class described, the,

combination of a horizontally disposed beam of insulating material, end members mounted thereon in substantial`alinement there with and spaced apart, a bearing plate fastened to said beam, a rotary member adapted to be positioned in alinement with and i'orm a continuation of said end members and having a corresponding bearing plate, means yieldingly holding said bearing plate in en# gagement, and an angularly outstanding handle on said member for rotating it.

7. In a. device `of the class described, the combination of a horizontally disposed beam of insulating material, end members mounted thereon in substantial alinement therewith and spaced apart, a bearing plate fastened to said beam, a movable underrun member adapted to be positioned in alinement with said end members and having a corresponding plate, means yieldingly holding said bearing plates in engagement, contact clips mounted on said end members adjacent their inner ends, and a switch blade movable with said movable member for engagement with said clips.

8. In a. device of the classdescribed, the combination of a horizontally disposed beam of insulating material, end members spaced apart and bolted to the under edge of said beam adjacent the ends thereof and in substantial alinement therewith, runner pieces formed on said end members and projecting beyond and in alinement therewith for attachment to the trolley wire ends, an intermediate member rotatable into alinement with the end members to mechanically bridge the space therebetween, a relatively large horizontally disposed bearing plate carried by said intermediate member, a fixed corresponding bearing plate fastened to the urider edge of said beam, and yielding pivotal means holding said bearing plates incontact. v

9. In a device of the class discribed, the combination of a horizontally disposed beam of insulating material, end members spaced apart' and bolted to the under edge of said beam adjacent the ends thereof and in substantial alinement therewith, runner pieces formed on said end'members and projecting beyond and in alinement therewith for attachment to the trolley wire ends, an intermediate member rotatable into alinement with the end members to mechanically bridge the space therebetween, a relatively large horizontally disposed bearing plate carried by said intermediate member, a lixed correspondingbearing plate fastened to the under edgeof said beam, yielding pivotal means plates in Contact, spring contact clips mounted on the upper izo edges of said end members adjacent the inner ends thereof, and a switch blade carried by said intermediate member for engaging said clips to electrically connect said end members.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally disposed beam of insulating material, end 'members spaced apart and bolted to the under edge of said beam adjacent the ends thereof and in substantial alinement therewith, runner pieces formed on said end members and projecting beyond and in alinement therewith for attachment tr the trolley wire ends, an intermediate member rotatable into alinement with the end members to mechanically bridge the gap therebetween, a relatively large horizontally disposed bearing plate carried by said intermediate member, a ixed corwww GLENN HENRY BOLUS.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. YOUNG,

l W. C. STARKEY. 

